Product Description
A collection of riddles about dinosaurs and cave men, including "What does a dinosaur have on the bathroom floor? Rep-tiles." ... Read more

Product Description
The Economics of Rising Inequalities brings together work by leading economists on the rise of inequality in the United States and some European countries that has been observed in the last two decades. These contributions are both theoretical and empirical, and address topics such as the role of organizational change at the firm level, the political economy of inequality and redistributive institutions, the contribution of search and matching and segregation by skills, and new empirical evidence on the underlying anatomy of inequality. ... Read more

Product Description
What kind of freedom, and what kind of individual, has the French Revolutionary tradition sought to propagate? Paul Cohen finds a distinctly French articulation of freedom in the texts and lives of eight renowned cultural critics who lived between the eighteenth century and the present day. Arranged not according to the lives and times of its protagonists but to the narrative themes and structures they held in common, Cohen's study discerns a single master narrative of liberty in modern France. He captures these radicals, whose tradition bids them to resist the authority of power structures and public opinion. They denounce bourgeois and utilitarian values, the power of Church and State, and the corrupting influence of everyday politics, and they dream of a revolutionary rupture, a fleeting instant of sometimes violent but always meaningful transgression. An eloquent and insightful work on French political culture, Freedom's Moment also helps explain how France, even as it has oscillated between political stagnation and crisis, has held onto its faith thatliberty, equality, and fraternity remain within its grasp.

Examines the ideas of Rousseau, Robespierre, Stendahl, Michelet, Bergson, Peguy, Sartre, and Foucault. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of jokes and riddles about baseball teams, players, and various aspects of the game. ... Read more

Product Description
In a friendly and entertaining style, America's Scientific Treasures describes hundreds of exciting destinations for the scientifically inclined traveler. The authors have spent many years traveling throughout the United States, and all of their suggestions are based on their own first-hand experience. The treasures they describe range from the unusual to the majestic, from the National Museum of Roller Skating to the Grand Canyon, and each has been selected for its high quality and educational merit. The book is organized geographically, spanning the forty-eight contiguous states, and the descriptions contain both travel details and lively background information. This guide will appeal in particular to armchair travelers, families looking for educational vacations, and anyone interested in America's scientific history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

GREAT, USEFUL, EASY TO READ
I FOUND THIS BOOK VERY USEFUL AS I TRAVEL AROUND ON MY VACTION TOURS.I SUGGEST ALL OWN A COPY.PAUL ... Read more

Product Description

The second edition of this pioneering text, Global Sociology, offers an innovative approach to sociology that takes the global dimensions of the contemporary world as its overarching framework. Fully revised and updated with a new Introduction and three new chapters, Global Sociology is written in a fresh and relevant style for undergraduate readers whether they have studied sociology before or are approaching the subject for the first time.

Carefully balancing contemporary sociological theory and concepts with arguments and concrete examples drawn from around the globe, Global Sociology highlights the scope and the importance of sociology for understanding the complex and ever-changing world around us. This new edition reflects current world events and debates in the discipline, importantly covering the aftermath of September 11, the new terrorist threat, and the impact of globalization.

Customer Reviews (2)

The Bombers that Made History - A Great Companion Volume
This book echos the one liner "Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history."

Seldom do the pilots who made the history have the gift of communicating it to us through art, but Pacific B-17 pilot Paul Eckley's watercolor "Mareeba Maintenance" does just that.

The book serves as a tribute to the bomber aircrews of many nations who fought in WWII. The artwork is excellent.There is not a single mediocre painting reproduced in the book.I own other aviation art books that I cannot say that about... The selections show a variety of styles from a variety of artists. Far more than a collection of "airplane portraits" these paintings showcase aviation art as serious fine art, from landscapes and seascapes to compelling character studies.Among the the treats are the otherwise unpublished works that appear in this book- such as Bill Phillips' Martin B-26 Marauder "Flak Bait".

The text is entertaining and overall, acceptable. As others have already noted, the occasional small errors tend toward the obvious. It is unfortunate that no one noticed that precisely rendered Douglas A-26 Invaders were identified as A-20 Havocs in the manuscript.This is a small disappointment, and should not discourage you from enjoying the book.

For me "Bomber Missions" is an affordable way to enjoy some of the best bomber art ever produced. Paintings demand to be hung, prints insist on being framed, but the aviation art published in books rests comfortably on the shelf, ready to be enjoyed.

Last but not least, far too little mention has been made of the fact this book serves as the companion volume to "Flying Aces" containing WWII fighter aviation art. If you liked one, chances are you'll want the other.

Simply Fantastic!!!
One word can describe this book......AMAZING!.....This book has great art work of american, british, german, and japanese bomber planes, and some fighters. Most of the illustrations were based on actual events which took place in the air, and the illustrations make those events come alive. This book was definitely worth the price, and i would recomend it to any war buff, plane buff, or artist........either way, its a great book to have. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not for Me
It takes a lot of time (or it seams that way) to get through this book. I do not know what slowed me down more, was it the disjointed writing or the plot that seamed to just be thrown together. The highlight was the interesting details of NASA, which come from the author.I only made it about half way into the book. There are many better books out there.

Space Shuttle and terrorism from a legislative point of view
Back in the late 1980's, the Space Shuttle program was all the rage as the topic of stories and movies. What make this novel unique was that a Senator and space advocate wrote it (mostly).Beyond that uniqueness, with it'sintricate real experience detail, Night Launch is just anothertechnothriller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pre War Paris with Beaton Dust Jacket
This attractive book, with its marvelous Beaton-illustrated jacket, captures the essence of Paris. The author explains that among world cities, Paris is unique in its ability to embrace modernity without sacrificing its past to it. Its unique alchemy enables creativity and inspiration to flourish in spite of (but not at the expense of) industrialization. The book includes over one hundred photogravure plates of images taken by the leading French photographers of that era. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Pretty but not worth it
I'll give this to you--the cover of this book is designed very well: hip lower case type, mysterious empty chair, and all those pebbles make for an alluring product. But the content didn't stand up to the cover. At one point perhaps this was an important, necessary work--but now this is Sartre defending his philosophy against claims no one is making to people who are soaked in existentialism from a young age. This is not Sartre giving a great introduction to his philosophy--that was not his goal: he sought to defend existentialism from its detractors, not to explain the niceties of the theory to them. If you want a primer on Sartre's philosophy and existentialism as a whole you would be better looking at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy online (Sartre: [...]; existentialism: [...]).

What you're paying for here is a well-designed cover.

An overview
This lecture gave me a better overview compared to other books I've read on the philosophy. It's worth buying, although it is a little short.

The Clearest Statement yet of Sartre's Version of Existentialism
This short but extremely clear volume was one of the first opportunities after the war for Sartre to explain to a lay audience his version of Existentialism. It took place on October 29, 1945 when the then already very famous French philosopher was invited to the "Club Maintenant" to "promote literary and intellectual discussion." Sartre used this lecture as an opportunity to settle scores and to set the record straight by answering all his critics at once. They had, among many other charges, leveled the uncomfortable charge that Existentialism showed only the negative and pessimistic side of human nature, and therefore as a philosophy (concerned mostly with abandonment, anguish and anxiety), was thus itself very much devoid of humanity. Sartre took these charges rather personally and to better make his points, pitched the lecture to the least sophisticated of the audience. What results is a beautifully articulated and clearly translated formulation of Sartre's basic philosophy. He answers his critics with a biting flourish, in what is not only a clear exposition, but also a penetratingly coherent piece.

To wit: Existence precedes essence, and in any case is arbitrary. In this world, man is defined by the choices he makes and by his commitments to those choices. He does not define himself prior to his existence and exists only in the present, well beyond any concept of natural determinism. In Sartre's view, there is no human nature superior to that described here.

In short, there is no God; we have been abandoned to our fate. That point however should not be misconstrued as that Existentialism is only about Atheism. It simply affirms that even if a God existed, it would make no difference to our humanity. Human nature is not a self-congratulatory condition, but rather a fearful, uncertain, anguished and forlorn condition. Thus the real problem with our humanity is not with God's existence, but with man's own existence. Existentialism argues that man does not need a God so much as he needs to rediscover himself and to comprehend that nothing can save him from himself -- not even proof of the existence of a god. In Sartre's view, this understanding alone makes Existentialism, not only profoundly human, but also optimistic about human nature and the human condition.

But more to the point, according to this formulation, anyone who believes otherwise is actually acting in "bad faith." From the Existentialist's point of view, once man is abandoned to his own fate he can have only one true goal: freedom for its own sake. That is to say, he is abandoned to his own fate with freedom (and his commitment to it) as his only universal project. At the bottom of this project, choice becomes the root node of the human condition, and the very basis of his primary reality. And because there is no god, there can be no pre-determined good. Good, like meaning, morality, judgment and values, all must be constructed from scratch as an existential project. That is to say, these all emerge directly from having made the choice and commitment to be free. Thus man has another important choice to make: to proceed through his world in either "good, " or "bad" faith.

If he proceeds in "good faith, he will discover that life has no a priori meaning. In our quest for freedom we must make committed choices that result in the invention of meaning and values as we go. Life itself is nothing until (and unless) it is lived. It is we (and not our gods or our dreams and wishes) that gives life it's meaning. And values are nothing more than the meaning we ascribe to them through our actions.Thus proceeding in "good faith" means that things must be accepted as they are; one must learn to live an authentic life of action, taking responsibility for his own existence -- without the need for either crutches or excuses.

Proceeding in "bad faith," on the other hand, means living an inauthentic life, one based on fantasy, excuses, wishes, promises and mythology. According to this formulation, God is seen as the "grand executor" and "creator" of all meaning. And as a result, man's only responsibility (both to himself and to his god) is obeying God's will and edicts. From the Existentialist point of view this approach is a barren and a coward's way out, because it forces man to shrink from being responsible for his own existence. He chooses instead a kind of self-congratulatory fetishsized life of fantasized meanings.

The last chapter of the book also has a critique of Camus' "The Stranger," but I will leave that aspect for my own review of that book. Five Stars

A Great First Hand Introduction to Existentialism
This book is really good for anyone who is interested in getting a solid understanding of the French school of Atheist Existentialism from a firsthand source.If you are like me, you hate reading primers, and other secondhand attempts to interpret or reduce a philosopher's work to simple arguments.This is a simple straight forward explanation, straight from the mouth of one of the foremost figures of Existentialism.I highly recommend it for anyone interested in getting to know about Existentialism without having to read an Existentialism for dummies guide.Sartre gives a clear and concise argument for his theories that should be understandable to most anyone, with or without a background in philosophy.Sartre's whole speech only goes on for about sixty pages, so this is by no means a difficult mountain of a work.At the same time, if you are already pretty familiar with Existentialism and the work of Sartre, this might very well feel like it adds nothing significantly new to the debate.

Is Existentialism a Humanism?
Is Existentialism a Humanism?

"Is Existentialism a Humanism?" was the title of Sartre's famous lecture in October 1945 given to an overflow crowd and rapidly to become the talk of the left-bank cafes, then all of Paris and Europe.The talk started by proclaiming "existence precedes essence" which meant, he explained, that individuals create their own values because there is no moral order in the universe.This freedom is the ultimate value.The talk went on by echoing his book "Being and Nothingness".He gave the lecture to answer his critics among the communists and catholics.He needed to present a viable and relevant social philosophy in order to stand comparison with these two groups.He based his appeal on Kant's ethic of universal principles.He continued by arguing that we need a sense of responsibility for other people and society as a whole (which was different from his previous contentions).In asserting that Existentialism is a Humanism Sartre means that it places the human being at the center of its attention and at the apex of its value hierarchy. Our ultimate goal should be to foster the freedom of the individual.To read more about Existentialism see Thomas R. Flynn(2006) "Existentialism: A Very ShortIntroduction", Oxford University Press.
... Read more

Product Description
"The manager's job is to make human strength effective and human weakness irrelevant."

--Peter F. Drucker

"I am often asked by management students and middle managers, 'How can we make the changes you talk about if we are not at the top?' I reply, 'You can begin where you are, whatever your job. You can bring new insight, new leadership, to your team, your group."

--Frances Hesselbein

"As they say, 'None of us is as smart as all of us.' That is good because the problems we face are too complex to be solved by any one person or any one discipline."

--Warren Bennis

These are just a few of the insights collected in Leader to Leader, an inspiring examination of mission, leadership, values, innovation, building collaborations, shaping effective institutions, and creating community. Management pioneer Peter F. Drucker, Southwest Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher, best-selling authors Warren Bennis, Stephen R. Covey, and Charles Handy, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin, Harvard professors Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Regina Herzlinger, and learning organization expert Peter Senge are among those who share their knowledge and experience in this essential resource. Their essays will spark ideas, open doors, and inspire all those who face the challenge of leading in an ever-changing environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent book on leadership.
Others have already outlined the 7 sections covered in LEADER TO LEADER, so I won't waste time on that other than to say there is something here for everyone. The Drucker Foundation has put together a wealth of information here from some of their collection of past articles written for their magazine publication. With 37 articles in all, the list of contributors reads like a who's who on leadership. There are three different pieces here from Peter Drucker himself, as well as an array of notables such as Herb Kelleher, Stephen Covey, Max De Pree and Warren Bennis.

At first glance, I found certain areas of particular interest, but upon reflection, I know even those articles I found less captivating will be ones I will reference again in the future as I am presented with new circumstances and challenges. I think you will too.

Most of the work here is in true article or essay form, however there are also a few interviews conducted by the editors, Francis Hesselbein and Paul Cohen. Being from a variety of writers, you will find a variety of styles as well. Some are quite cogent and direct in their synopsis, while others may require a piecing together of the information provided to form your own conclusions.

This is a fantastic compilation of articles that I highly recommend. It's been over a decade since this was published. Hopefully the Drucker Foundation will publish Leader to Leader II in the near future.

A Truly Unique Source of Business Wisdom
Hesselbein and Cohen have assembled and brilliantly edited "enduring insights on leadership" from the Drucker Foundation's award-winning journal. What a superb selection of essays they offer! The Introduction by Hesselbein (all by itself) is well worth the cost of the book. As for the 37 individual essays, they are organized within seven Parts:

I. On Leaders and Leadership (eg Peter Drucker, Max DePree, and Herb Kelleher)

II. Leading Innovation and Transformation (eg Peter M. Senge, John P. Kotter, and Douglas K. Smith)

III. Leadership in the New Information Economy (eg Esther Dyson, Margaret Wheatley, and Kevin Kelly)

IV. Competitive Strategy in a Global Economy (eg Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ann Winblad, and Keniche Ohmae)

V. Leading for High Performance (eg Steven R. Covey, Jim Collins, and Noel Tichy)

VI. Building Great Teams (eg Warren Bennis, Jon R. Katzenbach, and J. Richard Hackman)

VII. Leadership Across the Sectors (eg John W. Gardner, Regina Hetzlinger, and James E. Austin)

I know of no other single volume in which so many great business thinkers are represented by so many of their landmark essays. The editors are to be commended for the selections; also for the structure within which those selections are organized. This is "must reading" for leaders and, especially, for whose who aspire to be leaders.

Leading ideas by leaders for leaders.
"People in both in this country and around the world have an enormoushunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the Drucker Foundationlaunched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders forleaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "This hunger among millionsof working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and acommitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkableleaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors,spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universalhunger."

In this context, I summarized partially only four of thethirty-seven essays written by talented thinkers as follows:

I. Peter F.Drucker writes: "The three people from whom I learned the most in mywork were all very different. The first two were exceptionally demanding;the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me a lot...Fivelessons I learned from those remarkable men still apply today:

1. Treatpeople differently, based on their strengths.

2. Set high standards, butgive people the freedom and responsibility to do their job.

3.Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral part of thejob.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effectiveleaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris KearnsGoodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy,and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations.

1. Timing is(almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3.Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about buildingconnections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-notjust in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnerships reqire devotion toone's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must betalent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. WarrenBennis argues: "I belive that behind every Great Man is a Great Group,an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is a uniqueconstruct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the question fororganizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, often arrogant,incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggests tenprinciples common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of every GreatGroups is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoningindividual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected fromthe "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. Theyview themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personalprice.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are theproduct of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usuallyyoung.

10. Real artists ship.

IV. J. Richard Hackman identifies anumber of mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading workteams.

1. Use a team for work that is better done by individuals.

2.Call the performing unit a team but really manage members asindividuals.

3. Fall off the authority balance team.

4. Dismantleexisting organizational structures so that teams will be fully empowered toaccomplish the work.

5. Specify challenging team objectives, but skimp onorganizational supports.

6. Assume that members already have all theskills they need to work well as a team.

Not only these essays, but allof the book as a whole is strongly recommended.

A leading study from the leading thinkers.
"People both in this country and around the world also have an enormous hunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the DruckerFoundation launched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders forleaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "this hunger among millionsof working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and acommitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkableleaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors,spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universalhunger."

In this context, I partially summarized only five of thethirty-seven essays written by thirty-seven talented thinkers.

I. PeterF. Drucker writes: "the three people from whom I learned the most inmy work were all very different. The first two were exceptionallydemanding; the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me alot...Five lessons I learned from those remarkable men still applytoday:

1. Treat people differently, based on their strengths.

2. Sethigh standards, but give people the freedom and responsibility to do theirjob.

3. Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral partof the job.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effectiveleaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris KearnsGoodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy,and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations:

1. Timing is(almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3.Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about buildingconnections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-notjust in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnership require devotion toone's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must betalent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. John P.Kotter argues: "No organization today-large or small, local orglobal-is immune to change. To cope with new technological, competitive,and demographic forces, leaders in every sector have sought to alterfundamentally the way their organizations do business. These change effortshave paraded under many banners-total quality management, reengineering,restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds. Yet according to mostassessments, few of these efforts accomplish their goals. Fewer thanfifteen of the one hundred or more companies I have studied havesuccessfully transformed themselves." Hence, he lists eight criticalsteps to transform your organization:

1. Establish a sense ofurgency.

2. Form a powerful guiding coalition.

3. Create a vision.

4.Communicate the vision.

5. Empower others to act on the vision.

6. Planfor and create short-term wins.

7. Consolidate improvements and producestill more change.

8. Institutionalize new approaches.

IV. WarrenBennis argues: "I believe that behind every Great Man is a GreatGroup, an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is aunique construct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the questionfor organizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, oftenarrogant, incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggeststen principles common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of everyGreat Group is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoningindividual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected fromthe "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. Theyview themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personalprice.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are theproduct of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usuallyyoung.

10. Real artists ship.

V. J. Richard Hackman identifies a numberof mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading workteams.

Mistake 1. Use a team for work that is better done byindividuals.

Mistake 2. Call the performing unit a team but really managemembers as individuals.

Mistake 3. Fall off the authority balanceteam.

Mistake 4. Dismantle existing organizational structures so thatteams will be fully empowered to accomplish the work.

Mistake 5. Specifychallenging team objectives, but skimp on organizationalsupports.

Mistake 6. Assume that members already have all the skills theyneed to work well as a team.

I highly recommend this excellent collectionas a whole.

A comprehensive collection of current leadership thought!
The Leader to Leader magazine, from The Drucker Foundation, is consistently one of the best magazines for insightful leadership thinking.Now the 'best of the best' has been gathered for this handbook.HarvardBusiness School Professor John Kotter's insight into the four most commonmistakes that cause change efforts to fail are superb and right on themoney -- and his chapter is just one of thirty-seven.I wish this book hadbeen available when I started my leadership journey many years ago! Whether you are just beginning your leadership journey or you are well onyour way to becoming a SmartLeader, this book is a resource that you willbenefit from today and in the days ahead. ... Read more

Product Description
Now expanded to two volumes, this invaluable reference work provides a comprehensive review of all information presently available about these disorders, drawing on findings and clinical experience from a number of related disciplines such as psychiatry, psychology, neurobiology, pediatrics, etc. The Handbook covers descriptive and diagnostic characteristics, biological contributions, intervention techniques, legal and social issues. The Third Edition is updated to include the newest work in animal models, genetics, neuropsychological processes, screening and assessment methods. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Volkmar is a junk scientist
I would not believe anything he writes because of his anti-science bias.For example, in his adolescent psychiatry book he presents alot of patent falsehoods on ME (CFS) that likely serve to retard the science and cause a great deal of iatrogenic morbidity.

Great book
I ordered this book to help with my dissertation which is on Asperger's Syndrome.This book has been another wonderful reference book for my research project.Another great book from these editors!The only downfall is that it is 2 volumes and now I want the second volume!Although all the chapters are not helpful for my dissertation, the book will definately be a useful resource in the years to come.

Handbook of Autism ....
The most comprehensive, research-based information relative to individual's with ASD. None better! ... Read more